Neighbours....everybody needs good neighbours..

I thought I would shame my photographic skills and tell you about my neighbour at Abernethy craft fair last Saturday. Her name was Jo Cound and she is an amazing photographer. No digital cameras for Jo. She is a proper photographer with proper cameras, real film, negatives and her own dark room where she develops and prints all her own work. I have seen her work before at other fairs but we have never been neighbours and so this was the first time I got to chat with her and to hear more about her work. She is soo enthusiastic about her work and can tell the story of every photo she has taken. Her work mostly features landscapes and nature and every one is a work of art. If you fancy a look click HERE and visit Jo's website.

 I felt a wee bit inspired to try some nature photography myself and took my camera (digital of course) with me and Angel on our walk yesterday.

Like a proper artist ( ha ha) I thought I should name my shots.

Come back Angel, I want to take your picture.

COME BACK ANGEL.. oh never mind.

Forget Angel.

It's beginning to look a lot like autumn.

Mmm... nice wellies.

Rooting around. Is that a mini waterfall ?

I may as well admit that I will never be a photographer, but I did enjoy looking around a bit more than usual. It's so easy to take for granted that I live in a beautiful part of the country and sometimes it's good to remind myself how lucky I am.

Fiona

My Creative Space

I finished knitting a scarf for myself. Maybe not a major achievement for most people...

However, these days everything that I make is destined for the shop so it's a bit of a novelty to make something and keep it.

I used Can Can yarn from Rico Designs, which has to be the strangest yarn I have ever used, and a little bit quirky to work with, but the results are amazing.

The colour doesn't look as gorgeous in this photo as it really is which is a shame but never mind. The ruffles look really complicated but it's actually really easy to knit. Just 7 stitches and knit for150cm.

You have to knit into the yarn rather than wrap it round the needle, and as if by magic, a super ruffled scarf appears.

 

I thought you might also like to see this mini granny square, crocheted with 0.2mm wire.

This is for a customer of mine who wants to disguise an unsightly button on an evening bag.

The purple is the same colour as her dress so it will coordinate nicely with her outfit.

I'm off to visit some more creative spaces at kootoyoo and see what everyone else has been doing today.

Fiona x

Busy Monday

Today I decided to do something that I haven't done for a very long time.

A bit of card making

I have a craft fair on Saturday at the Museum of Abernethy, which is a really nice setting for a spot of Christmas shopping or for just treating yourself to some handmade goodies.

I haven't done many shows this year and fancied trying something a bit different for my first outing of the season. It's nice to feel that you have something new to show and that customers won't be looking at your stall thinking it's just the same as last year.

Soo.. a bit of something different.

I have a natty little template for a hand-shaped card which is perfect displaying bracelets. There are times when you want to give a wee present to someone who is going to say "aww you shouldn't have!"

Jewellery cards are the perfect solution.

Managed to finish off a dozen of these cards today. Lots of different colours and with simple crocheted wire and bead bracelets.

Along with some necklace cards and ear ring cards these will be on my table top card stand on Saturday.

I'm going to have to think out just how this will fit in with the rest of my display but it will certainly be a new look from last year.

Fiona x



Happy Sunday

I think my get up and go might be on it's way back from wherever it went.
I got a new super-duper phone today and I can't wait to take some photos in the shop tomorrow (once I figure out all the mysterious apps there will be no stopping me)......
In the mean time I'm relaxing in front of the telly, watching Taggart, drinking coffee and catching up with blogs I haven't had time to read for a while.

Bloggers block ???

I wonder if there is such a thing as Bloggers Block or do I just have too much going on in my head these days that I never seem to finish anything.
The ironing basket is taking on a life of it's own and may soon reach ridiculous heights.... ha ha too high for me to reach without the step ladders.
The top two shelves of the book case are perfectly tidy... the bottom two have stuff left over from tidying the top two.
The living room is lovely and tidy but somehow the hoover got left upstairs. Upstairs is hoovered but not so tidy.
I think I may be needing a holiday but since that is not about to happen any time soon, I think the next best thing would be a kick up the backside and a stern 'talking to'.
And so, having thought about blogging, and having blogged about nothing, I shall have a word with myself and get back on track again. So many things to do, so many things to plan for..... Ah it's tough being creative somedays.
Fiona x

My Creative Space

My Creative Space today has been mostly Green. Green isn't normally my colour of choice which is probably why I seem to have so many green beads in my box, all waiting patiently to be turned into something lovely. I've spent a lot of time looking at my green beads and have been fairly uninspired by them. I don't wear much green myself and so I felt at a bit of a loss as to what to do with them. However, there are lots of green accessories in the shops this autumn and wanting to keep up to date with current trends I made today Green Day.

While I was making this one I had some customers in who loved the antique look of these beads which work really well with this gold coloured chain. Possibly my favourite 'make' today.

These are similar to the ones above but more oval in shape.

Now I wish I knew the technical name for what I'm about to say but Hey Ho I don't know everything. Can't believe I just admitted that though. These beads have wiggly black squiggles on them. It might be called scrifito. But that might not be how to spell it. Whatever it's called though they are very effective and just a little bit quirky. 

And yes.... there are still plenty more in the box so there may be another Green Day very soon.

You can visit more creative spaces with more colours at kootoyoo